Discussion Period for Russian Citizenship Applications May Be Reduced

The discussion period for applications for Russian citizenship, as well as for those who have received political asylum, refugees, and contract military personnel in the Russian Armed Forces, may be reduced. Currently, applications are reviewed throughout the year, but it is proposed to shorten this period to three months, TASS reports, citing the press center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).

In December 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a draft law on "Citizenship of the Russian Federation" to the State Duma. The document outlines the basic requirements for obtaining citizenship, including knowledge of the Russian language, history, and the fundamentals of legislation, as well as the obligation to adhere to the constitution and the absence of threats to the country's security.

The MVD has announced that this bill suggests transferring the authority of reviewing applications for Russian citizenship to the MVD and its territorial bodies. It is expected that the ministry will be responsible for making decisions regarding the provision of Russian citizenship for certain categories of individuals, decisions on which are currently made by the President of the Russian Federation.

For these categories of citizens, they intend to reduce the discussion period for citizenship applications, said the MVD. They noted that the acceptance of Russian citizenship under exclusive circumstances will remain the prerogative of the head of state. This will relate to World War II veterans who are citizens of former Soviet republics. It also extends to individuals who possess special merits in front of Russia and those whose professions are of particular interest to the country.